The Anthropocene - What is Nature?

What is nature? Perhaps, a broad generalized definition such as everything surrounding us, or everything surrounding us for many centuries, not constructed by human beings. What is human constructed, even if technologically advanced can it be natural, since it was indeed built by resources found on earth? Should we considered natural that which is closer to the concept of wilderness or what links us to a remote past?

Incidentally, I had the opportunity to walk in the woods near a large metropolis where I was visiting long time friends. Reaching this forest was not easy at all, as a large line of cars was formed from people having the same idea in regards to time urban escape. Nature to them was having the opportunity to play with snowballs and feel the winter’s frost.

Nature to me was exploring the wilderness, especially little flowers and shrubs usually not existing in common flower nurseries. Getting an idea of how many different wild flowers can exist in 10-20 square meters of land was an amazing experience, a huge in praxis validation of the richness of biodiversity that still exists even in the outskirts of a metropolis of millions inhabitants.

Items like plastic bottles and packages left there by travelers were destroying my nature experience. It was like something alien in a relatively pure and otherwise pristine landscape. But not always. I captured a photo of a small yellow plastic ball (probably from a damaged toy) which at least in my opinion could visually match the environment surrounding it, almost like those nearby yellow flowers. Is that thought too provocative?



Finally, a big hole, probably made by an animal like a mole or a marten eludes to some conclusion that nature is not what we consider as beautiful but also dangerous (like a hidden trap) for someone like a child that will try to connect herself/himself with the forest. After all, one can equally find solitary beauty but also danger in such an awe inspiring untouched and sacred environment.